Meet Toyah the Rabbit, at The Rabbit Residence Rescue: “One of our newest little ladies, named after the fabulous @toyahofficial ❤️ our #Toyah is a bit shy at the moment“. This organisation does such a great job – Dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating over 150 rabbits, each with their own story to tell – Gorgeous Neroli passed away last month :(
There are just a few tickets left for Toyah’s Acoustic, Up Close & Personal date at Fairkytes Arts Centre, Hornchurch on Friday 11th March. Click below if you don’t want to miss this gig. Sure to be great night of music and chat. (Thanks to Havering Culture)
A very rare photo of Toyah is included in a new book, Punk London 1977, which will be published in May.
Punk London, 1977: Thrilling Photos of a Subversive Era
In 1976, Derek Ridgers started shooting punk rock shows in London with a borrowed camera, pretending to be a professional photographer. Edging his way up to the stage, the mid-20s, burgeoning shutterbug witnessed and documented the cultural explosion by night, while by day working as an art director in advertising. Little did he know, his hobby would blossom into a decades-long career, photographing everyone from James Brown to Tony Blair and working for outlets like The Sunday Times, The Independent, GQ and NME. In his latest book, Punk London 1977, Ridgers collects over 130 vintage photos from his early career, capturing the formation of one of the world’s most exciting and influential musical movements. Cuepoint asked Ridgers to elaborate on select photos from his fascinating book.
Photographer Derek Ridgers captured a riotous scene exploding in front of his lens
“That is Toyah Willcox. That was at the Man in the Moon pub in Chelsea at an X-Ray Spex gig. I had a conversation with her and she told me she was going to be famous. Of course I didn’t believe her.”
Photos taken from Derek Ridgers’ Punk London 1977, available May 1st, 2016 from Carpet Bombing Culture. Reserve your copy now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine retailers.
• Continue reading at Cuepoint. (Photo © Derek Ridgers)
Toyah returns to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London tonight – a venue she played last September to great reviews. Toyah tweeted earlier this afternoon: “i am WILDLY EXCITED about the ROYAL VAUXHALL TAVERN 2nite! we r putting in some punky stuff. it will be rocking“. Visit Toyah’s gig page at the Vauxhall Tavern website by clicking below.
From punk princess to cult stage actress, Toyah Willcox is an inextinguishable flame. Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, she is one of Britain’s most established names – an award-winning rock star as well as a much-loved stage and screen actress and music composer.
The singer has confirmed she will be bringing her colourful and energetic full-band to South Molton’s Riverside Caravan And Camping Park this summer. It’s a coup for the park, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and has also booked Queen tribute band The Bohemians later in the year.
“The park has now become known as one of North Devon’s top quality tourist destinations, offering five-star award-winning accommodation, top class entertainment, excellent food and drink that is affordable to all,” said owner Nicky Penfold. “To celebrate this huge achievement by a small North Devon family business, we have managed to book for our 2016 season two famous names in the entertainment world.”
• Continue reading at the North Devon Journal.
Three celebrated UK acts will perform at the second annual Graze Festival in Hampshire this summer.
The Beat, featuring Ranking Roger and his son Ranking Junior, will entertain crowds with hits such as Mirror In The Bathroom, Stand Down Margaret and Tears Of A Clown.
The ska favourites will be joined by Toyah Willcox, who has enjoyed eight Top 40 singles in a career spanning more than 30 years, and her band, plus pop, folk and punk performer John Otway at the event.
The first Graze Festival was held in Twyford, near Winchester, in August 2015 as a family day of music and fine food. As well as entertaining villagers and visitors, the festival also raises money for local good causes.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo.
Yet another retro Top Of The Pops featuring Toyah has just been added to the television schedules, airing later this month on BBC Four. This edition was originally shown on 4th June 1981 and includes a play of the, Godley & Creme, promo video for I Want To Be Free.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Friday 11th March: 7.30pm
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Saturday 12th March: 0.00am
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Sunday 13th March: 2.20am
04/06/1981. Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Siouxsie and the Banshees (Spellbound), Shakin’ Stevens (You Drive Me Crazy), Kate Robbins (More Than in Love), Squeeze (Is That Love?), Imagination (Body Talk), The Jam (Funeral Pyre), Michael Jackson (One Day in Your Life), Toyah (I Want To Be Free), Phil Collins (If Leaving Me Is Easy), Adam & The Ants (Stand & Deliver), Odyssey (Going Back To My Roots).
• Toyah’s next appearance on Top Of The Pops after this was on 1st October 1981, with the band performing Thunder In The Mountains in the studio. The TITM promo video was also shown on 15th October. On 26th November the band performed Good Morning Universe. All of these will re-air on BBC Four in the coming months. Stay tuned!
